Located in the north-eastern part of India, Assam is rich in culture and traditions, wildlife and natural beauty, waiting to be explored. Every city has something unique to offer its travellers and to take back with. It has abundant wildlife, thriving tribal traditions, exotic Bihu dance, mouth-watering cuisine, sprawling lush green tea gardens, the mighty Brahmaputra and much more that has collectively given Assam an identity of its own. To make your trip a memorable one, here are a few of the best tourist places to visit in Assam.

Once known as Gwahati Pragjyotishour or the Light of the East, the city has certainly done justice to its name. The capital city of Assam and the gateway to the North East, it is the largest cosmopolitan city in the region. While boasting of all modern amenities, the city has preserved its immense natural beauty and wildlife reserves. The popular tourist destinations in and around Guwahati are the Kaziranga National Park, Kamakhya Temple, Umananda Temple, Sualkuchi etc.

The Tea City of India is located in the upper west region of Assam. The largest tea producing town in the world, Dibrugarh produces some of the finest blends of tea that is consumed across the globe. Apart from the charming tea gardens, Dibrugarh is blessed with pristine natural beauty and a rather turbulent face of the mighty Brahmaputra. A popular destination for adventure activities like trekking, camping and mountaineering, Dibrugarh certainly ranks high in your places to visit in Assam.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and popularly known for the endangered one-horned rhinos, the Kaziranga National Park is spread across 430 sq. km area. Blessed with rich flora and fauna, the national park is home to tigers, leopards, Sloth Bear, elephants, swamp deer and several others. A trip to Assam without a customary visit to Kaziranga is incomplete.

One of the major attractions of Assam is Majuli, the largest riverine island in the world. Formed by the rather tempestuous Brahmaputra, Majuli islands are spread across an area of 452 sq. km. A bird watcher’s paradise and a photographer’s dream come true, Majuli’s natural beauty is mesmerizing. The calm and serene ambience helps to soothe frayed nerves and heal scarred souls.

35 km from Guwahati, Sualkuchi is the silk town of Assam. Majority of the locals in Sualkuchi are engaged in silk weaving and you can watch them making some of the most gorgeous Mekhela Chadors, the traditional attire of Assam. It is an opportunity for travellers to interact with the weavers, see their art and know more about their lives. It is an enriching experience.

Situated in Sonitpur district on the banks of River Brahmaputra, Tezpur is also known as the City of Eternal Romance. It is famous for the legendary love story of Anirudha (Grandson of Lord Krishna) and Usha (King Baana’s Daughter). The sprawling tea gardens, the mighty Brahmaputra and the mountains surrounding Arunachal Pradesh has added to the romantic charm of the city which boasts of some beautiful ancient monuments like Hazara Pukhuri, Bhomoraguri, Cole Park, Bamuni Hill etc.

Home to the largest Tea research station in the country, Jorhat is the Tea Capital of India and reckoned to be the Cultural Capital of Assam. Inhabited by people of different cultures, Jorhat is seen celebrating several festivals throughout the year. It also hosts the Tea Festival during November-January. Apart from this Jorhat offers a number of attractions to its visitors that include Burigosain Devalaya, Bilvesvar Siva Temple, Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar, Thengal Manor, Magolu Khat etc.

Nestled in the lap of nature and miles from the maddening city life, Cachar Hills offers some of the best sightseeing places in Assam. Home to several tribes, vivacious and vibrant cultures and picture perfect landscape with cascading waterfalls, green mountains, streams and rivulets, Cachar Hills can weave magic and cast a spell on all. Some of its major attractions are Haflong, Umrangso, Jatinga, Maibang and Panimoor.

Tinsukia is quite a distance away from the capital of Guwahati. About 480 km to be precise. But it is an industrial town, and known for the earliest oil refinery of the country. The city is hence very well developed, and commercially potent in Assam. This, however, doesn’t compromise on its natural bounty. There are tea gardens running over hills and wildlife prancing about in verdant meadows and forests. You can visit the Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Bell Temple, Margherita town and Rukmini Island.

Dispur in Assam is popular among tourists for its rich heritage that is passed on in the tribal culture. The rich flora, fauna, ecosystems and camp-worthy meadows are perfect for nature lovers. While you can also enjoy visits to the Assam secretariat, State Emergency Operations and the State Assembly House, which are all incidentally pretty famous among tourists. Other places to visit include Navagraha Temple, Assam State Emporium, Assam State Zoo, Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati Planetarium etc.

Literally Sonitpur translates to the city of blood. With its foothills and fields in the Brahmaputra Valley, Sonitpur is all about nature and wildlife. There are parks here that are created in such a way that they remain green all year round, ancient ruins, temples, archeological sites, deciduous forests and bamboo jungles for you to explore.

Popularly referred to as Assam’s oil city, Digboi is part of the state’s north east region. Interestingly, the name of the town sounds familiar to English speakers because it is coined from the phrase — ‘Dig boy, dig!’ referring to the colonial past when the British made local workers mine this region for oil. The oldest refinery of India lies here, as does an extensive railway line to transport the crude oil. You can visit the Digboi Oil Refinery, play some golf in the ancient colonial golf course, explore Dibru Saikhowa Natural life Sanctuary and tour the War Cemetery.

Bogamati sits on the border of Bhutan, home to the Barnadi river’s mouth. The locals call this the white river due to the visually stunning unique white stones and sand that are deposited on its shores. You can go for a trek up Moina Pukhuri, enjoy views of the Bhutan Hills, do some eco tourism at Manas Soushi Khongkhor and visit the Golden Buddha Statue. Tea plantations, paragliding hills and beetle farms add charm to Bogamati.

Named after the lake Sivasagar in its heart, this city is popular for its history as well as biodiversity. You get to enjoy the famous Ahom monuments, coupled with the marvellous architecture of their royal residences. You also get to visit the Sivasagar Tank with its surrounding temples of Sivadol, Devidol and Vishnudol.

All ancient temples and ruins, this little town is a pilgrimage set 24 km from Guwahati. River Brahmaputra sanctifies the land as it flows by Hajo, and beautifully built temples with carvings and artefacts that tell tales of the Hindu gods and goddesses. There are also Buddhist and Muslim-inspired monuments here, some going as far back as 18th Century. Ahom kings built most of these. Visit Hajo Powa Mecca, Hayagriva Madhava Mandir and Brahmaputra’s bank without fail.

121 km away from the city of Guwahati, Nagaon is a peaceful place set amidst tea gardens, waterfalls and lush green jungles. The flora here is rich, blooming from every corner, growing through even cracks in walls; the wildlife unique to its home, with Kaziranga National Park a part of this region. You will get to witness migratory birds, local species and the one-horned rhino along with many other smaller animals coming to their watering hole by Brahmaputra. Sightseeing places in Nagano otherwise include Surya Pahar, Nandeswar Devalaya, Tukeswari etc.

Silchar is an island of peace, as the locals call it, located in Assam’s north east. Barak River flows by this little district, putting a spring in the land of Silchar. Thus tourists find this place lush and green almost all year round. You can enjoy the quietness of the Barak Valley and its villages, visit the temples, parks and lakes as well as drive down the Maniharan Tunnel.

Diphu is a small little town full of gardens and lakes and natural beauty a mile wide on all sides. The tranquility here is unmatched, enhanced by fragrant herbs, plants and botanical gardens, museums as well as fishing corners by the lake. People visit here to bird-watch, trek and enjoy some quaint horse-riding sessions.

Streams, forests, plains and mountains pencil outline the district of Karimganj in Assam. If you want to travel to a place of quiet nature, where only streams gush and birds sing, then this is the place for you. A British castle dots River Barak, wetlands of Son Beel inviting you into its quiet folds. Malegarh Crematorium of Sepoy Revolt Troopers and Chhatachura Range make for other beautiful and interesting tours. Fishing, boating and picnicking by rivers Singla, Longai etc is also coveted.

Manas National Park, a famous place to enjoy wildlife in Assam, attracts nature lovers for its biodiversity and elephant reserve. There is also a Project Tiger Reserve here, along with its UNESCO World Heritage Site listing. Animals like thispid hare, turtle, pygmy hog and golden langurs are found milling around the woods, some of them rare and endangered. River Manas flows through this park, giving it its name and its lushness.